Set aside by U.S. Congress in 1993, Buffalo Peaks Wilderness is a wilderness area in central Colorado.  The area is named for the 13,000 foot-high volcanic mountains, East Buffalo Peak and West Buffalo Peak.  The area lacks soaring heights and jagged mountain landscapes and is perhaps not as photogenic as other wilderness areas in Colorado, but Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Area more than makes up for it in solitude and rolling alpine beauty. 

Indeed, solitude may be the main draw of Buffalo Peaks.  The area is far from major population centers, so chances are, you will be able to enjoy the wide-open meadows, beaver ponds, small creeks and pine forests in quiet isolation.  (we only saw a couple other hikers during two days in Buffalo Meadows, for example)

Hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing and fishing are the main activities.  Bikes and other forms of mechanical transport are not allowed in wilderness areas.

What to Do There

If your interest is in hiking, there are several trails to choose from that will take you up to the high altitude meadows of Buffalo Peaks Wilderness.  The Rich Creek Trailhead on FR 425 (CR 5) allows access to Rich Creek Trail and Tumble Creek Trail.  Rich Creek Trail is the most direct route and heads west from the trailhead along Rich Creek.  Several miles of hiking will see you to the meadows and the complex series of beaver ponds.  

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The Rio Camu begins high in the mountains in the north-central Dominican Republic and can be a refreshing getaway from the humid summer heat.  And yes, the water is cold, very cold.  

View and download a higher resolution copy here - River Camu, Dominican Republic

Ran across a lone mountain goat near the summit of West Buffalo Peak in Colorado last weekend.  He was munching down a lunchtime snack of high altitude grasses and completely ignored us. 

View and download a higher resolution copy here - Mountain Goat on West Buffalo Peak

Thinking of heading up the southern Oregon coast?  You shouldn’t have a problem finding things to do or finding a place to camp. You’ll come across tremendous scenery around every bend in the road and a campground literally every couple miles.  There are ample opportunities for hiking and biking, exploring the many coves or just relaxing on a sheltered beach.  Here are some state and county parks especially worth visiting on a trip up Highway 101.  

Humbug Mountain State Park

Humbug Mountain State Park provides a cozy leeward valley, several miles of beach, access to Brush Creek and the Humbug Mountain hiking trail.  The Oregon Coast Trail also passes through the park.  Hiking, biking, beachcombing and wildlife viewing are all popular in the area.  The campground has nearly 100 spots and full amenities.  

Battle Rock Wayside Park

Continuing north on Highway 101, you will see Battle Rock Wayside Park to your left just before you enter Port Orford.  The park is so named for the 1851 battle between the first white settlers and the native tribes.  Check out Battle Rock just off the highway, where the settlers held out during the fighting, and then head down across the beach to see the many other rock formations rising directly out of the sand and surf.  

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The other day I was out riding on a local side street here in Colorado.  I looked down for just one second to check my gears.  And the next second I was staring at the grill of a Jeep Cherokee coming at me from the left.  He was crossing from the oncoming left-turn lanes, but I clearly had the right-of-way.  He either did not see me or chose to ignore me as a silly cyclist (as many motorists do).  Fortunately, the guy decided to see me at the last second and I was able to swerve around him to the right. 

Funny thing is, I had seen the Jeep before and knew he was there in the turn lane.  But it was that second of inattention that almost led to disaster. 

Situational awareness is one of the key elements in staying safe on your bike.  Let your attention stray for just a second and an obstacle can come out of nowhere to wipe you out.  This is especially true when you are riding on roads and streets.  Staying aware of your surroundings can help you avoid, among other things, the dreaded attack of the left turn.

Nine thousand feet high.  Ten plus miles of singletrack.  Banked turns.  Rolling hills.  Beautiful mountain views.  If you’re in decent shape and can take the altitude, there is no reason not to ride the Rampart Reservoir Trail.

Rampart Reservoir was built back in the 1960s, with the intention of providing water to nearby urban areas.  And as a major side benefit, we now have a great public recreation area.  Hikers and mountain bikers can make full use of the lakeside areas, and the trails are some of the best in the region.

I have hiked around the reservoir, and most of this information can apply to hiking as well.  But the real fun is in taking your mountain bike along the flowing singletrack.

Trail Route

You can start your loop around the reservoir at the campground or from the north side of the dam.  But the best place to start is at the Rainbow Gulch Trailhead.  The trailhead is basically a wide spot in Rampart Range Road on the way to the reservoir, but there is plenty of parking even on the busiest days.  Hop on your bike and follow Rainbow Gulch straight downhill to the reservoir trail. 

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They're coming!  They're coming!  Birds of many shapes and sizes are coming to your monitor in the form of stock photos.  Download them now before they fly away.

All photos are shared with these usage guidelines - Legal & Copyright

Mountain biking this morning I came across two headphoned accidents-waiting-to-happen.  The first was a runner trudging along in the middle of the singletrack.  The second was a fellow mountain biker.  Each time, I came up behind them and said "hello, passing".  No response.  So I waited for a few seconds and then noticed the talisman of modern day obliviousness - white headphone cables running up the side of their heads - but fortunately, I managed to get around the idiots at wide spots in the trail.

Wearing headphones when you're out cycling or running is dangerous and just plain stupid.  If you have any interest in staying safe and being courteous to your fellow riders and joggers, leave the iPod at home.  I don't care how much you like listening to California Gurls while you workout.  The sounds of nature are far better than Katy Perry's computer-tuned voice.  If you don't think so, then there is no point in your being outside.  Stay inside where you can safely workout and listen to music at the same time.

Sometimes getting up early is really worth it.  (for a night owl like myself, that's not easy to admit)  This was one of those mornings.  There was a thin fog over the valley, and the golden-hour sun made the landscape look especially magical.

View and download a higher resolution copy here - Bonita Canyon, Arizona

Digging through my hard drive and Lightroom catalog, I found that I have a lot of old nature photos kicking around.  Trees, leaves, foliage, plants and the like.  And by old, I mean beyond ancient.  Some of these are from 2002!  (but I also mixed in a few recent ones for good measure)  Anyway, maybe they'll be of use to someone on the Interwebs as stock photos. Here are 24 to get you started.

All photos are shared with these usage guidelines - Legal & Copyright
You can download higher resolution copies of many of these images here - Trees and Foliage